Nearly Half Russia's Population Say 2002 Was Good

Nearly half (49%) of 1,600 respondents in the poll conducted in 83 cities, towns, and villages of Russia said the year 2002 was good. However, 37% of Russia's residents believe the year was bad. The poll was conducted by the All-Russian Centre for the Study of Public Opinion.

According to the answers received, in 2002,17% of the respondents had found joy in their families, 10% had been lucky at work, 9% had met new good friends, 7% had had higher incomes, 6% had made good purchases or received good gifts, 4% had resolved their housing problems, another 4% had been successful in school, and 3% had traveled well. However, 22% of those polled said they had been lucky not to have had any misfortune and 26% had had nothing at all good.

The most memorable events were the taking of hostages in the Theatrical Centre in Moscow (52%), the ice avalanche in the Karmadon Ravine and the death of Sergei Bodrov's TV group (26%), the census conducted in the Russian Federation (26%), air crashes involving Russia's aeroplanes (25%), the death of the children in the Bashkirian aeroplane mid-air collision (24%), the death of Governor of the Krasnodar Region Alexander Lebed (22%). Other memorable events included the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, the world soccer championship in Japan, conflicts between Georgia and Russia over terrorists in the Pankisi Ravine, Washington, DC sniper killings, the expulsion of Gennady Seleznyov, parliament speaker, from the Communist party, and the appearance of anti-Semitic slogans on Russia's roads.

The year 2003 is expected to be average by 47% of the respondents, good by 28%, and bad by just 11%.